The past decade of my career has been about building a JoyFull bridge between what is often perceived as two worlds: the modern, business, physical, earthly world; and the ancient, spiritual, feeling and mystical world. I have a strong connection to both.

I started my spiritual journey at a very young age. I was meditating before I knew it was called that. I trained in many holistic disciplines from Yoga and hypnotherapy to herbology and healing therapies. I have been blessed with opportunities to study and train with many great Priests, Rabbis, Healers, Yoga masters, Psychologists, and Visionaries. I started teaching workshops in my early 20s.

I also had the opportunity to be part of the business world, working as a Manager, a VP of Finance and a National Marketing Director.

Yoga means “union,” so yoga has been the perfect playground for me to utilize – and share – the tools I have acquired from both worlds. For me, combining those tools started with adapting and interpreting ancient wisdoms in a tangible way that applies to us in the 21st century. Many spiritual seekers today find that simulating practices that worked in peoples’ lives thousands of years ago is a challenge, because our modern world, energetically and physically, has very different demands and needs. Those of us with children, animals and jobs rarely have the opportunity to go away for months at a time to be in solitude or retreat.

But does a “spiritual” path require us to disengage from the “real” world? I believe that we don’t have to choose one over the other, only that our inner wellbeing, because it’s less visible, is often neglected. Our spiritual practice should be a source of joy, just like working in the garden or on a creative project that inspires us. Yet for so many of us it feels out of reach, or like arduous “work,” something we know we “should” do but don’t have time for. But do you take care of your obligations like children, pets, home, garden, garbage, only when you have time? If you do, the consequences can be very unpleasant.

So why is it so challenging to give our internal wellbeing the same priority and time? Taking time once a week for a yoga class or going to a religious service is great. But if you tend to your garden only once a week, it’s going to require more work than if you tend to it a few minutes daily. Just as you feel the satisfaction of the vegetables growing and flowers blooming, thus it is with the fruits of a spiritual practice. When we take the time to tend to our wellbeing inside and out, we reap the gifts of a JoyFull life in body and spirit. This is not something you have to work towards—it is available to you now. Daily practice puts you in the driver’s seat for creating your Best Life Now.

Maybe it’s time for you to begin or refresh your commitment to your spiritual practice. Here’s an exercise that can be part of your regular routine—or the beginning of one. It can fit into the reality of even your busiest days:
Set aside 3 minutes each morning and night. Start by practicing slow, deep breaths into your belly and relax your feet, hands, shoulders and the rest of your body. Keep your mind focused on your breath. Close your eyes and imagine a healing sunlight shining upon you. As you breathe in, imagine that breath coming into your heart. And as you hold the breath… let the light fill every cell of your body. Continue for a few more breaths, then say:

“I Awaken and Align with my Highest Divine Self NOW. – It is HERE – NOW. I embrace it within myself & others. – Thank you!”
Your ability to see solutions to the challenges in your life will begin to flow more easily as you create a bridge between your inner and outer realities. Remember that you are magnificent. All is in Divine order. All is well.

Join us for our series: A Practice to “Live your Best Life NOW” in July: Tuesdays & Thursdays 9am, call or email for info. Remember to take time to breathe. © 2001-2011 www.joyfull-yoga.com; 899-0707 Louise the creator of JoyFull living coaching  & owns JoyFull Yoga LLC in Jacksonville.